ALVIN, Texas – The Alvin City Council unanimously approved a resolution Thursday opposing data center development within city limits until additional studies, impact analyses and regulatory reviews can be completed, according to council member Scott Salter.
The resolution, approved June 4, formally expresses the city’s opposition to data center development in Alvin while officials evaluate potential impacts on infrastructure, public services and long-term community planning.
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City officials said the measure reflects Alvin’s commitment to responsible growth, transparency and protecting the community’s long-term character.
The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Mayor Gabe Adame following recent discussions surrounding proposed large-scale data center projects in Alvin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and elsewhere in Brazoria County.
The vote follows growing local discussion about potential large-scale data center projects being explored in Alvin’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and elsewhere in Brazoria County.
According to the city, large-scale data centers can require substantial electrical capacity, water consumption, wastewater infrastructure, drainage accommodations, transportation access and public service support depending on the size and operational demands of a facility.
City leaders said additional time is needed to evaluate how such projects could affect municipal infrastructure, utilities, public services, land use compatibility, environmental resources and long-term development plans.
The resolution does not establish a permanent prohibition or regulatory ban on data centers. Instead, it serves as a policy statement outlining the City Council’s current position while further analysis is conducted.
Under the resolution, City Council formally opposes the construction, development, expansion or approval of data center facilities within Alvin’s corporate limits until additional information, studies and policy considerations have been reviewed.
Areas identified for further evaluation include electrical demand, water consumption, wastewater capacity, drainage systems, transportation networks, emergency services, land use compatibility, environmental sustainability, tax base and economic development goals, and long-term community character and livability.
The city said the resolution aligns with Alvin’s Strategic Plan and Comprehensive Plan, which emphasize responsible growth, infrastructure planning, sustainability, transparency and preservation of community character.
On May 15, Salter publicly voiced opposition to the concept after the city received preliminary information about a possible development.
In a statement, Salter said representatives working with CenterPoint and a data center developer were evaluating sites ranging from approximately 100 to 200 acres.
According to information shared with the city, he said, the project could require an initial electrical load of about 200 megawatts, with the possibility of growing to as much as 1 gigawatt over time.
“At this point, I am opposed to a project of this type in our region,” Salter said in the statement.
Salter said he was concerned that a project with that level of electrical demand could place additional strain on the regional power grid and contribute to higher electricity costs for residents and businesses.
He also pointed to approximately $100 million in water infrastructure investments made by the city in recent years, saying those improvements were intended to serve residents, support responsible growth and strengthen the community’s long-term reliability.
Salter further stated that he opposed lowering standards or providing special treatment to attract data center developers and said any project should be evaluated based on whether it benefits Alvin residents.
“No final decision has been made by the City of Alvin regarding this potential project,” Salter said. “However, I believe residents deserve to know where I stand early in the process.”
In approving the resolution Thursday, council members formally expressed concerns about infrastructure capacity, utility demand and long-term planning considerations while calling for additional study before any future consideration of data center development within city limits.
The city said any future consideration of data centers should be deliberate, transparent, data-driven and aligned with Alvin’s infrastructure capabilities and long-term planning goals.